Folding chair



J. D. BROWN FOLDING CHAIR July 27, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 1,1964 INVENTOR JGJ'EPHQBPOW/V J. D. BROWN FOLDING CHAIR July 27, 1965 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1, 1964 NVENTO R \farew/ 2 Eflomv 5 UnitedStates Patent 3,197,253 FBLDKNG C Joseph D. Brown, 11 Forbes'Bivd,Eastchester, NY. Filed June 1, 1964, Ser. No. 371,461 7 Claims. ((11.297-436) This invention relates to folding chairs and more specificallyto a novel and improved combination of a folding chair and tablet armwherein the tablet may be maintained either in a writing position orlowered to a storing position alongside the chair.

Numerous forms of tablet arm folding chairs have been suggested butknown structures have not been found satisfactory for a number ofreasons, among them being undue complication, relatively high cost andthe necessity for care in operation to avoid damaging the linkingmechanisms and latches. This invention overcomes the aforementioneddifliculties and provides a novel and improved folding arm chair incombination with a folding tablet arm that is characterized by itsrelatively low cost, ruggedness, ease of operation and stability of thetablet arm in the writing position.

Another object of the invention resides in a novel and improved tabletarm for use on a folding chair that may be easily moved to and from thestored and writing positions and which embodies a simplified arrangementand organization of components affording a high degree of durability.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of anovel and improved tablet arm chair wherein the chair can be moved to afolded position whether the tablet arm is in the writing position or inthe stored position and wherein the tablet arm will normally remain inthe stored position when the chair is opened.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of anovel and improved folding chair in combination with a folding tabletarm assembly.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent from the following description and accompanying drawingsforming part of this application.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a folding chair with tablet arm inaccordance with the invention and with the chair in the open positionand the tablet arm in a writing position.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a fragmentary por tion of the chairshown in FIGURE 1 and with the tablet arm in vertical plane preparatoryto movement to the stored position.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the tablet arm in thestored position.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of the chair andtablet arm in the folded position.

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of the chair in a folded positionand with the tablet arm in overlying relationship with the front of thechair.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the chair shown in FIGURE 1 andwith the tablet arm in the writing posi tion.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 6 taken along the line 7-7thereof.

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view of the tablet arm supportinglink.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the sliding collar carried by the linkshown in FIGURE 8.

3,197,253 Patented July 27, 1965 FIGURE 10 is an exploded perspectiveview of the hinge and catch assembly carried by the tablet arm.

The chair in accordance with the invention is generally intended for usein classrooms, auditoriums and the like wherein permanent seating cannotbe conveniently provided and wherein means must be provided in the formof a desk or equivalent writing surface. Folding chair structures withtablet arms have heretofore been suggested which provide for movement ofthe tablet arm to a folded position without collapsing the chair so thatthey can be moved out of the way when not needed. Such prior structureshowever while having numerous disadvantages as previously enumeratedpresent further dif ficulties particularly in instances where they mustbe frequently folded and unfolded in large numbers. For instance,certain of the prior art structures provide latching means for securingthe tablet arm in the writing position and such latching means must ofcourse be released to fold the tablet arm. In other instances, thetablet arm is required to be manipulated in a particular manner in orderto effect the folding of the tablet arm in ependent- 1y of the chair.Other structures have openings and crevices in which foreign matter canbe introduced as will occur particularly when the structures areutilized in classrooms and such foreign matter will prevent ormaterially interfere with normal operation of the tablet arm andsometimes the chair itself.

The chair in accordance with the invention does not embody any lockingor latching means per se to retain the tablet arm in the writingposition. Retention of the tablet arm is accomplished by a new andimproved arrangement and organization of elements which enable a user tomove the tablet armfreely from its writing position to its storedposition and vice versa by following what may be considered logicalsteps, namely, moving the tablet arm to a vertical position and thenlowering the tablet arm to the stored position. To place the tablet armin the raised position, the tablet arm need merely be moved to theraised position whereupon the tablet arm can be rotated to a horizontalwriting position which automatically locks it in place. Complicated andexpensive devices including spring latches and the like are completelyavoided with the result that a more durable and dependable structure isprovided.

The folding chair in accordance with the invention has a furtheradvantage in that the chair may be readily and easily folded to astorage position by merely folding the chair in the normal mannerwhether the tablet arm is in the writing position or the storedposition. However, when the chairs are being set up in a lecture hall,classroom or the like, they are merely opened in the normal manner andthe tablet arm will normally remain in the stored position. This reducessetting-up time and furthermore provides more convenient access to thechairs at which time the individuals using the chairs can raise thetablet arms to the writing position if they so desire.

Referring now to the drawings which illustrate one embodiment of theinvention, the folding chair is gen erally denoted by the numeral 10 andis provided with a folding tablet arm generally denoted by the numeral11. The chair may be of any conventional construction and in theillustrated embodiment includes an inverted U-shaped element 12 which,when the chair is open, is inclined relative to the seat 13. The lowerportions of the U-shaped element 12 form the front legs 14 and 1S of thechair, while the upper portion 16 supports a back 17. The legs 14 and 15are pivoted to the seat at 14' and 15', and a cross brace 18 joins thelegs 14 and 15 to provide added rigidity. The rear legs 19 and 20 of thechair are pivoted to the rear portion of the seat at 19 and 20 and theupper ends of the legs 19 and 29 are connected to the legs 14 and 15 bylinks 21 and 22. The rear legs 19 and 29 are also braced by a transversemember 23. With this arrangement, the chair can be moved readily fromthe open to the closed positions, and in the closed position, the chairelements, such as the back, seat and legs, are generally in alignedvertical planes as shown for instance in FIGURE 5.

The folding tablet arm assembly 11 has a writing sur face or tablet 24of wood or other suitable material and is provided with a relativelylarge forward portion 25 and rearwardly extending neck part 26. The endof the neck 26 is pivotally secured to one side of the back portion toof the chair by means of a hinge assembly generally denoted by thenumeral 2' This hinge includes a tubular member 28 carried by a plate 29which issecured to the neck 26 by means of screws or other suitablefastening means. The tubular member 28 has an angular slot 30 whichslidably receives a pin 31 carried by the hinge pin 32. The pin 31 andslot 3d are principally for the purpose of retaining the pin 32 in itsproper position within the tubular element 28 and at the same timeprovide for rotation of the tablet arm 24 from the horizontal or writingposition as shown in FIGURE 1 to the vertical position as shown inFIGURE 2 preparatory to its movement to the storage position as shown inFIG- URES 3, 4 and 5. It will also be observed with referenceparticularly to FIGURE 2 that the axis of the tubular element 23 issubstantially parallel to the edge 24 of the tablet arm 24. The rearportion of the pin 32 is bent downwardly as indicated at 33 (see FIGURE6) and then transversely for engagement with the bracket 34 which iswelded or otherwise suitably secured to the chair back 16. With thisarrangement, the tablet arm can be rotated about an axis defined by theaxis of the tube 28 and will also move in a vertical plane about thepivot point in the bracket 34.

The forward end of the tablet arm 24 is supported by an arm or link 35.The lower end of the link 35 is provided with a transverse tubularbearing 36 rotatably engaging a shaft 37 fixed to the underside of theseat by a pair of brackets 33 and 39. The outer end of the arm or link35 has a cap 49 with an inclined surface 41 which surface is coordinatedwith the tablet arm in the open position as shown in FIGURE 1 so that itis substantially parallel to the tablet arm in such open position.

The tablet arm 24 is connected to the arm 35 by means of a hinge andslider assembly generally denoted by the numeral 42. In the instantembodiment of the invention, the arm has a square cross-section andreceives the tubular slider or collar 43 having the same cross-sectionalconfiguration as the link 35. While the link 35 and the slider 43 mayhave any suitable configurations, it is desirable that the slider 43 befixed against rotation on the link 35 as it affords somewhat addedstrength and rigidity to the structure. The outer end of the. link isprovided with a spring detent 44 which cooperates with a hole 45 in theslider 43. This detent 44 merely serves to hold the slider in the raisedposition when the tablet arm is being moved to the writing position tofacilitate movement of the tablet from the vertical plane as shown inFIGURE 2 to the horizontal plane as shown in FIG- URE 1. This avoids theneed for the user to hold the tablet arm in the position shown in FIGURE2 while it is being rotated about its axis.

The tablet arm 24 is secured to the slider 43 by a double hinge shown inexploded form in FIGURE 10. This double hinge includes a plate 46 havingopenings 47 therein for attachment of the plate to the underside of thetablet arm as shown in FIGURE 2. The plate includes a downwardlyextending flange 48 along one side thereof and a relatively narrowdownwardly extending tab 49 on the other side thereof. The flange 43 andtab 49 are provided with openings 48' and for pivotally securing thebracket 59 thereto. The bracket 59 has a vertical portion 51 and a pairof outwardly extending legs 52 and 53. These'legs are provided withopenings 52' and 53' for reception of the pivot pins 54 and 55 forsecuring the bracket to the plate 46. The wall 51 of the bracket 5! hasan opening 56 for pivotally securing it to a pin 57 extending from theouter side of the slider 43.

The plate 46 is positioned on the underside of the tablet arm 24 so thatthe axis defined by the pivot pins or rivets 54 and is in substantialalignment with the axis of the rear hinge tube 28. With thisarrangement, the tablet arm 24 can be rotated through an angle of fromthe horizontal position shown in FIGURE 1 to the vertical position shownin FIGURE 2. In addition, the inclined surface 41 of the cap 40 engagesthe underside of the plate 46 when the tablet arm is in the writingposition and the leading edge 41' of the cap 49 butts against the cornerdefined by the plate 46 and the downwardly extending flange Thisarrangement provides a firm support for the tablet arm in its horizontalposition and it is the cooperation of the cap 40 with the plate 46 andflange 48 which retains the tablet arm in the writing position.

The lowered or stored position of the tablet arm is determined by a pin35 carried by the leg 14. This pin engages the link 35 when the latteris displaced downwardly and thus fixes the lowermost position of thetablet arm 24.

With the structure as described above and assuming the chair and tabletarm is in the open position shown in FIGURE 1, the user can move thetablet arm to the folded or stored position merely by raising thearmitself to the vertical plane as shown in FIGURE 2. When the tabletarm 24 is in this position, slight pressure downwardly will overcome theresistance of the detent 44 and the tablet arm can be lowered to thestored position as shown in FIGURE 3. To bring the tablet arm to thewriting position, the user need merely raise the tablet arm until thedetent 44 engages the opening 45. This will temporarily hold the slider43 in the upper position while the tablet arm 24 is rotated to thehorizontal position as shown in FIGURE 1.

The chair in accordance with the invention can be folded whether thetablet arm is in either the raised or stored position. If the arm is inthe stored position as shown in FIGURE 3, the chair may be readilyfolded to the position shown in FIGURE 4 in which instance the arm isfree to rotate about a vertical axis to assume the position shown eitherin FIGURE 4 or in FIGURE 5, the latter being the usual position of thearm for the storage of banks of chairs. If the tablet arm is in an openposition as shown in FIGURE 1, the chair can be folded without actuallylowering the arm to the stored position. Should the chair of FIGURE 1 befolded without first lowering the tablet arm than as the seat of thechair is raised, the arm 24 will move upwardly until the link 35 andseat pass an in-line position. The angular shift of the cap 40 relativeto the plate 46 will cause angular movement of the tablet arm 24 aboutits axis so that it will clear the link 35 and automatically movedownwardly to a position shown for instance in FIGURE 5. When the chairis in the closed position as shown in either FIGURE 4 or 5, theunfolding of the chair will not automatically move the tablet arm to theraised position. It is quite evident from the structure thus fardescribed that when the tablet arm is in the position shown in FIGURE 4unfolding the chair will not affect the position of the tablet arm. InFIGURE 5, unfolding of the chair merely moves the tablet arm about avertical axis to a position corresponding to that shown in FIGURE 4.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the chair inaccordance with the invention provides a sturdy, dependable unit that ischaracterized by its ease of operation, sturdiness, durability andfreedom from damage that may be caused by improper operation.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it is apparent that changes, alterations and modificationsmay be made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof asdefined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a folding chair having back, seat and legmembers movable from a folded position with the members in relativelyclosely disposed relationship to an open position, of a folding tabletarm assembly comprising an elongated tablet arm, means pivotallysecuring one end of said arm to said back member for pivotal movement ofsaid arm in a substantially vertical plane relative to said chair andabout an axis extending in a direction of the length of said arm, anelongated link pivotally secured to said seat member at a point spacedfrom the forward edge thereof and angularly displaceable in a verticalplane, a hinge assembly securing the forward end of said tablet arm tosaid link, said hinge assembly including a plate secured to theunderside of said tablet arm, a depending member hinged to said platewith the axis of said hinge being in substantial alignment with thefirst said axis, means pivotally and slidably securing said dependinghinge portion to said link whereby angular movement of the tablet armabout the first said pivot and in a vertical plane will producecorresponding angular rotation of said link, and downwardly extendingmeans carried by said plate and abutting the outer end of said link withthe latter inclined outwardly and upwardly of the seat member when thetablet arm is moved about said axes and into the writing position toretain said tablet arm in the writing position.

2. The combination with a folding chair having back,

eat and leg members movable from a folded position with the members inrelatively closely disposed relationship to an open position, of afolding tablet arm assembly comprising an elongated tablet arm, .ieanspivotally securing one end of said arm to said back member for pivotalmovement of said arm in a substantially vertical plane relative to saidchair and about an axis extending in a direction of the length of saidarm, an elongated link pivotally secured to said seat member at a pointspaced from the forward edge thereof and angularly displaceable in avertical plane, a hinge assembly securing the forward end of said tabletarm to said link, said hinge assembly including a plate secured to theunderside of said tablet arm, a depending member hinged to said platewith the axis of said hinge being in substantial alignment with thefirst said axis, means pivotally and slidably securing said dependinghinge portion to said link whereby angular movement of the tablet armabout the first said pivot and in a vertical plane will producecorresponding angular rotation of said link, a downwardly dedependingelement carried by said plate and a cap on the outer end of said link,said cap having a top surface substantially parallel with and contactingsaid plate and the leading edge of said cap abutting said dependingelement when the tablet arm is in the writing position.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said link includes aspring actuated detent engaging said collar when in the raised position.

4. The combination with a folding chair having back, seat and legmembers movable from a folded position with the members in relativelyclosely disposed relationship to an open position, of a folding tabletarm assembly comprising an elongated tablet arm, means pivotallysecuring one end of said arm to said back member for pivotal movement ofsaid arm in a substantially vertical plane relative to said chair andabout an axis extending in a direction of the length of said arm, anelongated link pivotally secured to said seat member at a point spacedfrom the forward edge thereof and angularly displaceable in a verticalplane, a hinge assembly securing the forward end of said tablet arm tosaid link, said hinge assembly including a plate secured to theunderside of said tablet arm, a depending member hinged to said platewith the axis of said hinge being in substantial alignment with thefirst said axis, means slidably engaging said link and fixed againstrelative rotation therewith, means pivotally securing said dependinghinge portion to the last said means whereby angular movement of thetablet arm about the first said pivot and in a vertical plane willproduce corresponding angular rotation of said link, a downwardlydepending element carried by said plate, and a cap on the outer end ofsaid link, said cap having a top surface substantially parallel with andcontacting said plate and the leading edge of said cap abutting saiddepending element when the tablet arm is in the writing position.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said slidable meanscomprises an elongated collar surrounding said link.

6. The combination with a folding chair having back, seat and legmembers movable from a folded position with the members in relativelyclosely disposed relationship to an open position, of a folding tabletarm assembly comprising an elongated tablet arm, means pivotallysecuring one end of said arm to said back member for pivotal movement ofsaid arm in a substantially vertical plane relative to said chair andabout an axis extending in a direction of the length of said arm, anelongated 'link of rectangular cross section pivotally secured to saidseat member at a point spaced from the forward edge thereof andangularly displaceable in a vertical plane, a hinge assembly securingthe forward end of said tablet arm to said link, said hinge assemblyincluding a plate secured to the underside of said tablet arm, adepending member hinged to said plate with the axis of said hinge beingin substantial alignment with the first said axis, a collar surroundingsaid link and slidable relative thereto, said collar having aconfiguration corresponding to the configuration of said link and fixedagainst angular motion relative thereto, means pivotally securing saiddepending hinge portion to said collar whereby angular movement of thetablet arm about the first said pivot and in a vertical plane willproduce corresponding angular rotation of said link, a downwardlydepending element carried by said plate, and a cap on the outer end ofsaid link, said cap having a top surface substantially parallel with andcontacting said plate and the leading edge of said cap abutting saiddepending element when the tablet arm is in the writing position.

7. The combination with a folding chair having back, seat and legmembers movable from a folded position with the members in relativelyclosely disposed relationship to an open position, of a folding tabletarm assembly comp ising an elongated tablet arm, means pivotallysecuring one end of said arm to said back member for pivotal movement ofsaid arm in a substantially vertical plane relative to said chair andabout an axis extending in a direction of the length of said arm, anelongated link pivotally secured to said seat member at a point spacedfrom the forward edge thereof and angularly displaceable in a verticalplane, a hinge assembly securing the forward end of said tablet arm tosaid link, said hinge assembly including a plate secured to theunderside of said tablet arm, a depending member hinged to said platewith the axis of said hinge being in substantial alignment with thefirst said axis, means pivotally and slidably securing said dependinghinge portion to said ink whereby angular movement of the tablet armabout the first said pivot and in a vertical plane will producecorresponding angular rotation of said link, a downwardly dependingelernent carried by said plate and means on the outer end of said linkhaving a surface firmly abutting said downwardly depending element withthe tablet arm References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS8/16 W'atkins 297-162 1/24 Uhl 248-1889 Clarin 297162 Supita 297-160Nordmark 29755 Junkunc 297-162 Evss et a1 297-162 Banks 297-162 FRANK B.SHERRY. Fri/nary Examiner.

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A FOLDING CHAIR HAVING BACK, SEAT AND LEGMEMBERS MOVABLE FROM A FOLDED POSITION WITH THE MEMBERS IN RELATIVELYCLOSELY DISPOSED RELATIONSHIP TO AND OPEN POSITION, OF A FOLDING TABLETARM ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TABLET ARM, MEANS PIVOTALLYSECURING ONE END OF SAID ARM IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL PIVOTALMOVEMENT OF SAID ARM IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL PLANE RELATIVE TO SAIDCHAIR AND ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION OF THE LENGTH OF SAIDARM, AN ELONGATED LINK PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID SEAT MEMBER AT A POINTSPACED FROM THE FORWARD EDGE THEREOF AND ANGULARLY DISPLACEABLE IN AVERTICAL PLANE, A HINGE ASSEMBLY SECURING THE FORWARD END OF SAID TABLETARM TO SAID LINK, SAID HINGE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A PLATE SECURED OT THEUNDERSIDE OF SAID TABLET ARM, A DEPENDING MEMBER HINGED TO SAID PLATEWITH THE AXIS OF SAID HINGE BEING IN SUBSTANTIAL ALIGMENT WITH THE FIRSTSAID AXIS, MEANS PIVOTALLY AND SLIDABLY SECURING SAID DEPENDING HINGEPORTION TO SAID LINK WHEREBY ANGULAR MOVEMENT OF THE TABLET ARM ABOUTTHE FIRST SAID PIVOT AND IN A VERTICAL PLANE WILL PRODUCE CORRESPONDINGANGULAR ROTATION OF SAID LINK, AND DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING MEANS CARRIED BYSAID PLATE AND ABUTTING THE OUTER END OF SAID LINK WITH THE LATTERINCLINED OUTWARDLY AND UPWARDLY OF THE SEAT MEMBER WHEN THE TABLET ARMIS MOVED ABOUT SAID AXES AND INTO THE WRITING POSITION TO RETAIN SAIDTABLET ARM IN THE WRITING POSITION.